The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria (CCRN), Archdiocese of Ibadan has concluded its annual January prayer program. The annual program that usually runs for 31 days, started from January 1st to 25th with daily prayers meeting at Group levels, 26th to 27th at Deanery levels, and the Grand Finale at the Archdiocesan level from Wednesday, 28th to Friday, 31st January, 2025 was concluded with a vigil at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oke – Ado, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The programme designed to usher members into the new year had as its theme for the new year “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD” (Palms 23:1) and started with the prayer of Rosary, led by Bro Mario Titus Chukwuma, followed by opening Mass, celebrated by the Parish Priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oke- Ado, Ibadan, Very Rev. Fr. Benedict Ugwuegbu. The priest welcomed the group into 3-day program to conclude a one month prayer session for the Archdiocese and intentions of all.

Fr. Ugwuegbu, who is also the CCRN Chaplain in the Archdiocese of Ibadan directed that each person welcomed at least twenty persons with Hand-shake. After the Mass was praise and worship, intercessory prayer and a talk on the topic: “I WILL FULFILL MY DAYS” delivered by Bro Martin Nduka Onyema, who explained that as Christians and as leaders in one capacity or the other, husbands, wives or children, there is always a task to accomplish and a goal to achieve, hence, to be fulfilled means achieving those goals within the time one has here on earth. He added that the major or primary goal for Christians is to make heaven, if not, such Christians must have failed woefully.

How then can Christians achieve their goals? It is by following instruction given by God. He illustrated this with the relationship between a Master and an Apprentice, that both parties must follow the agreement signed at the starting point. Bro Onyema pointed to the examples of Moses (Exodus 3) and Saul (1 Sam 15), how they failed to follow God’s instructions and were punished for it. Also, the example of Jeremiah (Jer. 1), how God approved of him in spite of his short-coming, to the extent of giving him a staff of office and concluded by saying “No one can be fulfilled without God’s approval.”

He further charged leaders in various ministries, husbands, wives and children to always obey God by following instructions and desist from thinking that their talents/gifts are by their own wisdom. To succeed too, as past leaders, they must make sure their successors succeed by supporting them.

The Archdiocesan Chairman of Catholic Charismatic renewal of Nigeria, Bro Godfrey Ononiba also appreciated God in the lives of members, that in spite of all battles, they are still alive because the Lord is their Shepherd. He urged members never to be afraid in this new year and appreciated the leaders as well.

He encouraged too, that those having issues that needed to be reconciled do so between the first and the second day of the 3-day concluding program.

The Chairman called for prayer for the Archdiocese of Ibadan where he said CCRN started, but seems to have been left behind by the CCRN of other Dioceses. “Is it bad to have a bus or a site named after CCRN, Ibadan Archdiocese where we can hold this type of program? He asked, and charged members to always be ready to assist their leaders and specially too, to support the launching of a jotter slated for Friday, the last day of the program.

For the second day, Bro Anthony Meme spoke on the Topic: “FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT” (Text: Gal. 5:22). He said that a glimpse at the Bible reference shows about nine or more attributes of the spirit, yet the Bible did not pluralize the form of the fruit because a tree can only produce a kind of fruit. The implication, according to Bro Anthony is that the spirit reproduces these virtues, all embodied in love just as wisdom embodies all other gifts. When a spirit is in a believer, the spirit is found to reproduce the fruit enabling the believer to replicate the person of Christ whom the spirit is sent to glory. Hence, when we bear fruit, God is glorified. When we bear fruit, it is ultimate and more desirous than readily manifesting the power of gifts which appears to be the greatest yearnings of most believers, whereas the latter can ironically be the easiest means of going to hell. Bearing the fruit of the spirit is 80% raw power, the remaining 20% is just logistics. ‘A Godly spiritual propensity is fruit base’, he concluded.

Topic for the last day was: “HE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD!  (Psalms 23:1.),” delivered by Rev. Fr. Darlington Agubosim.

He explained that a shepherd is a watchman, while the Lord is a Master. In this context, the Lord is not just any kind of shepherd, but one who's able to lay down his life for the sheep. This implies that he's ever willing and eager to go all out to secure the well-being of the flock. So, the Lord is promising us to go all out to secure our well-being in the whole of the year 2025 by making each day of this year counts. The shepherd leads the sheep to green pastures, and the implication for us is that none of us will lack anything good regarding our needs this year. What then shall be our response? The Speaker asked. Just like the little boy who reposed so much trust and confidence in his father and would not express even an iota of fear or worry because he (father) was the pilot of a turbulent aircraft. The Master wants us to trust Him completely for every of our need throughout this year and beyond, said Fr. Darlington.

Launching of a new jotter took place, in addition to other spiritual exercises and Holy Mass each day of the Grand Finale. Priests that took part in the program included the CCRN Chaplain, Very Rev. Fr. Benedict Ugwuegbu, Rev. Fr. Cyprian Nnamdi and Rev. Fr. Darlington Agubosim. The organizing Committee appreciated all the Priests, CCRN Groups across the Archdiocese and the Host Parish, for the success of this year “Annual January Prayer Program.”